In writing this article I could do not better than to go back to the origins of the concept for PATH. As I view the introduction, which was written in 1999, it states the rationale for PATH clearly and simply.

The role that the organization sees for itself is as a global community of interest in hydrogen that works to implement a hydrogen energy future through providing a forum for sharing information, relating relevant experiences and collaborating in activities which facilitate the technical, institutional and financial implementation of that future. The mission of the organization is to facilitate the development of and then spread a consensus vision of the hydrogen economy globally.

PATH is not meant to replace the national hydrogen associations whose goals concern hydrogen economic interests in that country. Instead it is aimed at multinational cooperation and the exchange of information which each member organization can use in their own manner. It may also have a role in helping countries, which request it, to develop an association around their country’s hydrogen economic interests.

This type of cooperation is desirable because hydrogen substitution for fossil fuels often requires new end-use products to use the hydrogen and a new or extensively modified infrastructure for the production, storage, transport, and dispensing of hydrogen. Optimum and economic designs must be determined and procedures for the safe use of hydrogen by the public developed and demonstrated. This requires experience, education and training. The effective production, storage and conversion of hydrogen to useful work require advanced technologies.

The promise of this effort is a sustainable energy future without fuel resource depletion. It means cities without air pollution, a globe without man-made climate change, and the ability for all nations to produce hydrogen to meet their energy requirements. Our countries have the ability to make a contribution to this process and meet the needs of all participating countries toward bringing about a sustainable energy future.

PATH Goals
Identify and develop a community of interest among Members and address common issues.

Encourage a certain level of knowledge, activity and safety in hydrogen among PATH Members.

Assist interest hydrogen parties in countries that are not members to organize a hydrogen activity within their country and become a contributing member of the hydrogen community.

The specific activities that PATH is undertaking are the development of plans on policy, demonstrations and education. These plans will lead to the development of initiatives in each one of those areas over the next year. The specific output from these activities are anticipated to produce:

• Policy Committee charged with developing a collective vision of our future energy system,
• Initiative on research exchanges between hydrogen researchers in member countries,
• Efforts to develop a joint educational materials and activities between the U.S., Canada and Japan,
• Initiation of one or more demonstration projects using equipment from members in a “plug and play” mode,
• Conducting a Workshop on Hydrogen in Mexico in collaboration with the Mexican Hydrogen Society,
• Report listing the hydrogen codes and standards for the U.S., Canada, and Japan.